Digital camera with overscan sensor

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a digital motion picture camera comprising at least one optoelectronic sensor device for the recording of motion pictures. The sensor device has, in an areal arrangement, a plurality of sensor elements for the production of a respective received signal in dependence on a light exposure. The camera further has a control device for the controlling of the read-out of the received signals of the sensor elements as well as a digitizing device for the digitizing of the received signals. A part of the sensor elements is associated with a central areal region of the sensor device for the production of received recording signals and another part of the sensor elements is associated with a frame-shaped areal region of the sensor device for the production of received monitoring signals, said frame-shaped areal region surrounding the central areal region.

[0001] This application corresponds to and claims foreign prioritybenefits under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d) and (f) or 365 (b) based uponGermany patent application No. 102 18 313.9 filed Apr. 24, 2002.

[0002] The invention relates to a motion picture camera for full motionrecordings of high picture quality such as television movies, cinemacommercials, cinema movies or even industrial or medical applications.Motion picture cameras for the exposure of a photochemical negative filmare known for such recordings. This recording technology allows a highresolution, large brightness dynamics and good color rendering. However,the development and the printing of such a negative film are undesirablycomplex and/or expensive since specialist equipment is required.Furthermore, it is required for an electronic picture processing, whichhas become customary in the meantime—for example for the changing of thecolor or for the insertion of synthetic picture elements—to subsequentlydigitize the exposed film material.

[0003] Digital video cameras are also known which record the recordedpictures with three CCD sensors provided for different colors and storethem in a digital format on magnetic tape. The recording is observed bymeans of an electronic viewfinder in the form of an integrated displaymonitor which reproduces the recorded pictures recorded by means of theCCD sensors. Such cameras therefore have the advantage that the recordedfilm pictures are already present in digital form. However, such videocameras do not satisfy the demands occurring in all typical recordingsituations with respect to handling and picture quality and they areconsequently not used in full motion recordings in which a particularlyhigh picture quality is desired. For example, such a camera design withthree CCD sensors requires recording lenses with a comparatively longback focal length, which is disadvantageous for the imaging performanceof the optical systems. Furthermore, splitter prisms are required in theoptical reception path which can likewise result in an unwantedreduction in the recording quality.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a motion picturecamera which allows a digital recording of motion pictures, on the onehand, and is suitable for use for full motion recordings of high picturequality, such as television movies, cinema commercials or cinema movies,on the other hand.

[0005] This object is satisfied by a digital motion picture camera whichhas at least one optoelectronic sensor device for the recording ofmotion pictures, a control device for the control of a read-out of thereceived signals of the sensor elements and a digitizing device for thedigitizing of received signals of the sensor elements, with the sensordevice having a plurality of sensor elements in an areal arrangement forthe production of a respective received signal in dependence on a lightexposure, and with a part of the sensor elements being associated with acentral areal region of the sensor device for the generation of receviedrecording signals and with another part of the sensor elements beingassociated with a frame-shaped area region of the sensor device whichsurrounds the central areal region for the generation of receivedmonitoring signals.

[0006] In the motion picture camera in accordance with the invention, asensor device is therefore provided having a plurality ofphotoelectrical sensor elements which each produce an electricalreceived signal. These received signals are digitized while still in thecamera, optionally after amplification, so that the picture informationis present directly in a digital format and can thus be electronicallyprocessed without problem and can be reproduced without substantial lossof quality.

[0007] In this camera, the sensor elements of the sensor device areassociated with different pre-determined or pre-determinable arealregions, with a part of the sensor elements being associated with acentral areal region, with the received signals of these sensor elementsbeing used for the long-term picture storage—that is for the actualrecording of the recorded pictures—(recevied recording signals). Anotherpart, or all other, sensor elements are associated with a frame-shapedareal region surrounding the central areal region. The received signalsof these sensor elements (received monitoring signals) can—in additionto the recevied recording signals—be used for the observation andmonitoring of the actual recording (so-called “over-scan”).

[0008] The explained different association thus corresponds to adivision of the motion picture to be recorded into a central pictureregion which has ultimately to be stored for the production of themotion picture film and into an outer picture region provided only forthe control observation. The motion picture camera in accordance withthe invention thereby makes possible an observation of the recordingbeyond the central picture region taken into account for the productionof the motion picture film. For this, the corresponding receivedmonitoring signals can be supplied together with the recevied recordingsignals of the central areal region to a display unit, for example to adisplay unit serving as an electronic viewfinder, in particular anintegrated display monitor.

[0009] The cameraman can thus see a larger picture region than theactually stored picture section. The observation of an outer pictureregion is thereby made possible—without the necessity of a purelyoptical view-finder—to be able to recognize objects at the picturemargin in good time which should not be recorded by accident and to beable to move the recorded central picture section of the camera awayfrom such objects in a correspondingly early manner. In this manner, forexample, an unintentional recording of a microphone at the margin of thepicture section can be recognized and prevented in good time.

[0010] An advantage of the explained division of the sensor elementsthus consists of the fact that a control observation of an outer picturesection which is ultimately not to be recorded is possible without anoptical viewfinder or a control photo-sensor being required for thispurpose in addition to the anyway required sensor device.

[0011] The said display unit is preferably integrated into the motionpicture camera in order always to allow the cameraman guiding the cameraa direct observation of the motion pictures recorded and of theultimately not recorded picture surrounds.

[0012] Alternatively or additionally, a display unit can be providedwhich is not arranged directly at the motion picture camera, but isconnected to this for the transmission of the received monitoringsignals and of the recevied recording signals. A recording observationis thereby also possible at a location remote from the motion picturecamera if the camera is attached, for example, to a crane. In such acase, a coupling of the display unit to the camera can take place, forexample, via cable or via a wireless connection.

[0013] In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the said displayunit is coupled to a picture generator by which a cutting frame signalcan be produced and transmitted to the display device which appears onthe display device as a cutting frame to distinguish the central,ultimately stored, picture region and the frame-shaped picture regiononly provided for control purposes. The picture generator canadditionally be used to represent specific recording parameters, forexample the actual aperture setting of the recording lens, on thedisplay device. Alternatively to the use of a picture generator, apermanent physical marking of the boundary between the central pictureregion and the frame-shaped picture region can also be provided at thedisplay device.

[0014] The sensor elements can preferably be controlled by the controldevice such that the recevied recording signals and the receivedmonitoring signals can optionally be read-out separately.

[0015] Different interfaces can be associated with the sensor elementsof the central areal region and with the sensor elements of thesurrounding frame-shaped areal region in order either to allow atransmission of the received signals both to a memory device and to a,display device or to allow a transmission of the received monitoringsignals only to the display device. In particular, one interface for thetransmission of the recevied recording signals to a memory device andone interface for the transmission of the recevied recording signals toa display device can be associated with the central areal region, withthese two interfaces also being able to be formed by a single commoninterface if a corresponding splitting of the recevied recording signalsshould take place at a downstream position of the signal processing.

[0016] A connection of the sensor elements to a memory device and to adisplay device is preferably provided such that the received signals ofall sensor elements can be read out during a read-out run, with therecevied recording signals being transmitted to the memory device and tothe display device and the received monitoring signals only beingtransmitted to the display device.

[0017] The transmission of the received monitoring signals to thedisplay device can take place serially, in parallel or only group-wisein parallel, preferably in agreement with the kind of transmission ofthe recevied recording signals to the memory device.

[0018] The recevied recording signals are transmitted to the memorydevice in digitized form. The transmission of the received monitoringsignals to the display device can take place in analog form, with thedisplay device being connected to the sensor elements of the centralareal region at a position still before the digitizing device so that nodigitizing device at all is required for the sensor elements of theframe-shaped areal region. The transmission of the received signals tothe display device can alternatively take place in digital form so thatthe display device—for example together with a memory device—isconnected to the output of a digitizing device. In this manner, a checkcan additionally be made using the display device of whether thedigitizing of the received signals has taken place in a satisfactorymanner.

[0019] In a possible embodiment, the connection of the sensor elementsis selected such that the division into the central areal region andinto the frame-shaped areal region is permanently fixed. The inventioncan, however, also be realized particularly well by the use of a sensordevice whose sensor elements can be freely selectably controlled bymeans of the control device such that the received signals can beproduced and read out in any desired order or at any desired points intime. It is thereby possible, for example, to record particular picturesections or to determine a plurality of received signals—for example fordifferent exposure times—for control purposes with respect to specificsensor elements. It is moreover possible to vary the association of thesensor elements with the central areal region or with the frame-shapedareal region in order to change the size and/or the shape of the arealregions. A freely selectable read-out of the sensor elements is inparticular possible with the use of a CMOS sensor.

[0020] In accordance with an advantageous further development of theinvention, the sensor elements of the outer frame-shaped areal regionare provided in a lower resolution or with otherwise reducedreproduction properties than the sensor elements of the central arealregion of the sensor device. The sensor elements of the frame-shapedareal region namely only serve, as explained, for the controlobservation, but not for the actual recording of the motion picture. Areduced resolution in the outer picture region therefore does not makeitself noticeable in the stored motion picture and can also benegligible for the control observation, in particular if the resolutionof the sensor elements of the frame-shaped areal region is not worsethan the resolution of the display unit used which is always limited inpractice.

[0021] The recording optical system used is normally anyway onlyoptimized to the size of the ultimately recorded or stored motionpicture, that is to the size of the central areal region of the sensordevice. The recording optical system nevertheless actually does alsoimage regions outside the central picture region, but only with reducedimaging properties. The design of the sensor elements of the outerframe-shaped areal region with reduced resolution thus does notnecessarily result in large restrictions with respect to the controlobservation of the recording than are anyway predetermined by the outerregion of the recording optical system. It is therefore particularlyeconomical for the extent of the central areal region of the sensordevice exactly to correspond to a central region within the pictureplane for which the imaging properties of the recording optical systemof the motion picture camera are optimized.

[0022] In contrast, such a reduced resolution in the outer pictureregion can contribute to making possible a more cost favorablemanufacture of the sensor device, of the associated data interfacesand/or of the associated read-out electronics and to reducing thecomparatively high data flow of the received signals of the sensordevice to be read out.

[0023] The resolution of the sensor device can be reduced within theframe-shaped areal region in a spatial respect. The sensor elements can,for example, be arranged within the frame-shaped areal region in a lowerdensity than in the central areal region, that is with a lower number ofsensor elements per surface unit.

[0024] Alternatively or additionally, a lower sensitivity or brightnessresolution can be provided within the frame-shaped areal region of thesensor device than in the central areal region.

[0025] The resolution of the frame-shaped areal region can also be lowerthan in the central areal region in a color respect. The colorreproduction is namely of subordinate significance for the explainedpurpose of the control observation for possibly intruding objects at thepicture margin. In extreme cases, it can be sufficient for the sensorelements of the frame-shaped areal region only to be designed for amonochromatic recording.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, the sensor device can have areduced time resolution within the frame-shaped areal region. In thiscase, the maximum frequency at which the sensor elements of theframe-shaped areal region can be read out, and consequently a completeouter picture frame can be recorded, is lower than in the central arealregion. This restriction is also of subordinate significance for theexplained purpose of the control observation for possibly intrudingobjects at the picture margin. This applies in particular to the case ofa slow motion recording in which the motion picture actually to bestored within the central areal region is recorded at an increasedpicture recording frequency, for example at 100 frames per second. Forthe pure control observation of such a slow motion recording, incontrast, a customary picture recording frequency, for example of 24frames per second, is sufficient.

[0027] The aforesaid different kinds of reduced resolution can becombined in any desired manner to achieve a cost favorable manufactureof the sensor device, on the one hand, and a sufficient controlreproduction of the recorded picture, on the other hand. For example,sensor elements can be provided in the frame-shaped areal region whichhave a comparatively low sensitivity per se (low dynamic resolution),with this low sensitivity being at least partly compensated in thatthese sensor elements have a comparatively large areal extent and aretherefore only arranged in a relatively low density (low spatialresolution).

[0028] In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of themotion picture camera in accordance with the invention, said motionpicture camera only has a single optoelectronic sensor, in particularthe already named CMOS sensor. When a single sensor is used for allcolors, the upstream beam splitter required when a plurality of sensorsare used can be omitted. An improvement in the picture quality isthereby achieved. The omission of the beam splitters furthermore has theeffect that the distance of such a single sensor from the recordingoptical system can be reduced such that higher quality optical systemscan be used.

[0029] To make possible a distinguishing of colors with a single sensorin such an embodiment, each sensor element can be provided with a colorfilter, in particular with a red, green or blue filter. Each sensorelement thus receives a signal associated with a picture element, saidsignal, however, only corresponding to the picture information of asingle color. The further color information for this picture element iscalculated from the received signals of the adjacent sensor elementsprovided with different color filters. Alternatively, the color of afilter associated with the sensor element can be changed in a fastertime sequence in order thus to obtain all color information.

[0030] It is, however, also possible to use a color-sensitive sensordevice, for example a semi-conductor sensor which has different spectralabsorption at different depths. Each sensor element corresponding to apicture element can thereby generate a plurality of received signalswhich correspond to different wavelength ranges or colors. For example,such a color resolving sensor element can produce a red, green or bluereceived signal.

[0031] Alternatively to this, two or three sensors can also be providedfor the realization of different spectral sensitivities.

[0032] In accordance with an advantageous further development of theinvention, the frequency at which the sequential motion pictures arerecorded can be varied, and indeed in a manner pre-settable by the user.The pictures can thereby be recorded at a different frequency to the onethey should ultimately be reproduced at as a motion picture film. Thisvariability of the picture recording frequency allows fast motion shotswhich are desired, for example, for action scenes or for procedureswhich take place extremely slowly in order to make an action procedureappear faster than it actually takes during the recording. Furthermore,the variability of the picture recording frequency allows slow motionshots such as are likewise customary and desired for many full-motionrecordings.

[0033] It is important for this further development that theseadvantages are achieved by a change in the frequency at which thesequential motion pictures are recorded and that the desired fast motioneffects or slow motion effects are accordingly not produced bysubsequent time interpolation of individual motion pictures.Interpolation artifacts are thereby avoided which can occur on theinterpolation of motion pictures which have been recorded at a constantfrequency such as is the case, for example, with the initially named CCDsensors.

[0034] It is, in contrast, unimportant for the realization of theexplained further development whether the motion pictures are recordedas full frames or as half frames.

[0035] With this further development, the possibility is thereforeprovided of a deviation of the ongoing picture recording frequency froma base value of, for example, 24 frames per second (fps). This meansthat the individual recorded motion pictures have an increasing phaseshift with respect to this base value of the picture recordingfrequency.

[0036] The said variation of the picture recording frequency can, forexample, be realized in that the starting point in time of the exposureof the sensor elements, that is the starting point in time of the lightexposure or the point in time of the actual start of the received signalproduction on the basis of a light release, takes place by acorresponding control at different points in time or phase positions.The resetting or cancellation of a photoelectric sensor element can inparticular take place at a point in time pre-settable by the controldevice.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the picture recording frequencycan be varied in that the control device causes the end of the exposureof a photoelectric sensor element at different points in time. Thismeasure in particular results in different picture taking frequencieswhen the start of the exposure of a following motion picture does nottake place in accordance with a fixed time pattern, but only in timereference to the (variable) end point in time of the previous exposure.

[0038] In both cases, or by combination of these two control measures, aphase shift of the picture recording with respect to a base value of thepicture recording frequency is therefore achieved, with simultaneously avariation of the length of the exposure time being possible.

[0039] The desired variation of the picture recording frequency can alsobe realized in that the rate or frequency is varied at which thereceived signals of the individual sensor elements are sequentiallyreset or read out. In other words, a sequential read out of the receivedsignals of the sensor elements in accordance with a read-out cycle canbe provided, with ultimately one single picture being recorded by thesequential read-out of all received signals. A fixed time pattern, andthus a specific base value of the picture recording frequency, can bedeviated from by variation of this read-out cycle.

[0040] As regards the order of the read-out of the photoelectric sensorelements, it is possible for the control device first to sequentiallycause a resetting or cancellation of all sensor elements andsubsequently to sequentially read out the received signals of the sensorelements, that is to forward them to an amplification device and/or tothe digitization device. In such a case, the already mentioned variationof the starting point in time and/or of the end point in time of theexposure is particularly suitable to realize the desired variation ofthe picture recording frequency.

[0041] Alternatively to this sequential read-out of the sensor elements,provision can also be made for the received signals of the photoelectricsensor elements to be read out in parallel or at least group—wise inparallel—for example divided according to the explained diffe3rent arealregions of the sensor device. This simplifies the realization ofparticularly high picture recording frequencies. The picture recordingfrequency can be varied here in that the sensor elements, or a group ofsensor elements, are reset together at variable points in time and/orare read out at variable points in time.

[0042] The sensor device and the control device are preferably designedfor a continuous variability of the picture recording frequency, forexample by a continuous variability of the read-out cycle of the sensorelements. Alternatively to this, a variability of the picture recordingfrequency can be provided in pre-determined frequency steps, for examplein that the picture recording frequency is changed in units of theread-out cycle with which the photoelectric sensor elements are read outsequentially. For example, after a sequential or simultaneous read-outof all sensor elements, it is possible to wait for the length of apre-settable continuously variable or discretely variable waitinginterval until the sequential readout, or optionally the resetting ofthe sensor elements required for this, is begun again.

[0043] Each sensor element of the sensor device can, as alreadymentioned, have its own amplifier device for the amplification of therespective received signal and/or its own digitizing device associatedwith it. It is preferred in this case for the amplifier device or thedigitizer device to be already integrated in the sensor device or in thecorresponding semi-conductor component. For example, amplifiers and/oranalog/digital converters can be integrated at the rear side of aphotoelectric surface containing the sensor elements in athree-dimensional design of the sensor device.

[0044] Alternatively to this, it is also possible to provide a singleamplifier device or at least a single digitizing device together for aplurality of, or all, sensor elements.

[0045] A particularly simple realization of the invention is possible bydesigning the sensor device in a CMOS design or in a related technology.Such a sensor allows the explained flexible variation of the picturerecording frequency and it permits a read-out of the sensor elements ata comparatively high read-out cycle and thus at a high picture recordingfrequency. The picture recording frequency can thereby ultimately bevaried within an advantageously large frequency range

[0046] In the motion picture camera in accordance with the invention, asalready mentioned, a purely electronic control of the picture recordingfrequency or of the exposure time of the sensor device can be provided,with the exposure time of the individual sensor elements, that is thestarting point in time and/or the ending point in time of the receivedsignal formation, being able to be controlled by means of the controldevice together for all, or for a part of the sensor elements or foreach sensor element individually. It is ensured in the first case thatthe same exposure time is provided for all sensor elements such that thebrightness values and color values of the motion picture recorded arerecorded faithful to the original. A common control of only a part ofthe sensor elements, or an individual control of all sensor elementsindependently of one another, in contrast, allows the production ofreceived signals on the basis of different exposure times with respectto different sensor elements such that, for example, picture regionsalready identified as of comparatively low contrast can be recorded witha matched exposure time in order to nevertheless achieve a sufficientlylarge data depth for such picture regions.

[0047] Alternatively or additionally to the purely electronic control ofthe exposure time, a diaphragm device can be disposed upstream of thesensor device which allows an adjustment or limitation of the exposuretime of the sensor device. Such a diaphragm device can, for example,have a rotationally movable rotational diaphragm which has one or moremasking regions and one or more transmission apertures which are inparticular circular in shape. The sensor device is alternately exposedto received light or masked by a rotational drive of such a rotationaldiaphragm.

[0048] Within the context of a further advantageous further formation ofthe invention, it is possible to control the sensor elements by means ofthe control device such that a plurality of received signals areproduced sequentially which correspond to different exposure times andare assigned to a single motion picture to be recorded. In particularafter the start of the exposure of a reception element, that is afterthe required resetting or cancellation of this reception element, thereceived signal accumulated in each case in the meantime can be taken upat a plurality of sequential points in time without a repeated resettingor cancellation of accumulated charge taking place.

[0049] A plurality of received signals are therefore produced for thesame sensor element and for the same motion picture at defined points intime by such a control. If the received signal is located in asaturation region of the sensor device for the actually desired exposuretime, the correct received signal value can still be determinedsubsequently by calculation by extrapolation on the basis of the furtherreceived signals corresponding to a shorter exposure time. It islikewise possible, for the avoidance of under-exposure—that is for theavoidance of a non usable received signal—to expose the sensor device asa precaution for a longer time and to determine by calculation thecorrect signal value for such sensor elements for which the longerexposure results in overexposure by additional read-out of receivedsignals with respect to shorter exposure times.

[0050] A CMOS sensor is particularly suitable for this type of controlsince the received signals of the individual sensor elements can be readout free of destruction, that is in a signal maintaining manner, forexample in the form of current voltage values. It has moreover beenfound to be of advantage with a CMOS sensor that this allowscomparatively high read-out rates. No significant time loss isassociated with the explained repeated signal gain since ultimately acomparatively long exposure time is set as a precaution for each sensorelement, for which, however, a plurality of read-out processes takeplace.

[0051] Furthermore, a cooling device can be provided for the activecooling of the sensor device which comprises, for example, a Peltierelement or a fan.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the motion picture camera inaccordance with the invention has at least one digital memory device forthe storing of the recorded and digitized recevied recording signals.Such a memory device can preferably be coupled to the camera in anexchangeable manner to allow a fast replacement. The said digitizingdevice is connected to the memory device via at least one data interfacefor the forwarding of the respectively digitized recevied recordingsignals, with a number of data interfaces preferably being providedwhich corresponds to the number of the digitizing devices.

[0053] The storage of the recevied recording signals in the memorydevice preferably takes place with a large bandwidth, that is without areduction of the data acquired in the picture recording. In other words,a large memory requirement is accepted so as not to risk anyirreversible loss of motion picture data due to data compression or topicture treatment such as color or brightness modifications. A possibledata compression or picture treatment should only take place using acopy of the original recorded data stored in the memory device.

[0054] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the memory device canbe controlled by the control device for an additional storage of atleast one recording parameter in order to store the actual picturerecording frequency, the actual diaphragm setting of the recording lensor text information on the recorded film scene (take), for example, withthe motion picture data. Such recording parameters can be used fordocumentation purposes or for a corresponding setting of the camera fora later restart of the shoot.

[0055] Furthermore, the motion picture camera in accordance with theinvention can be fitted with a clock which makes available a time signalwhich can be stored together with the motion picture data or withrecording parameters in order to allow an association of these data withdefined points in time.

[0056] Furthermore, an identification device can be provided by thememory device which allows the transmission of an identification codecorresponding to this memory device to the motion picture camera. Thecontrol device of the camera can thereby, for example, recognize anexchange of the memory device, the total capacity or the still remainingcapacity of the memory device. A further application possibility of suchan identification device consists of the fact that recording parameterspreviously transmitted to the memory device can again be loaded backinto the camera in order, for example, to allow an automatic adjustmentof the camera in accordance with an earlier setting. The saididentification device can, for example, have a microcontroller and a nonvolatile memory.

[0057] One difficulty in the obtaining of the received signals with ahigh data depth and a correspondingly high data rate is that the memorydevice has to have a capacity sufficient for the usual recordingperiods. The memory device must therefore be fitted either with acomparatively large capacity or a change of the memory device must bepossible during the ongoing recording.

[0058] In a further advantageous embodiment, no physical coupling istherefore provided between the camera and the memory device, but themotion picture data or recording parameters to be stored are transmittedto the memory device in a wireless manner. For this purpose, the motionpicture camera can have a wireless transmitter and the memory device canhave a corresponding wireless receiver. This embodiment has theadvantage that the construction size of the memory device or of aplurality of memory devices to be used does not limit the handling ofthe camera. The weight of the camera can also be considerably reduced inthis manner.

[0059] Moreover, such a wireless coupling of memory devices to themotion picture camera can simplify an interruption free change of thememory devices at the motion picture camera so as not to prematurelyhave to end a film recording or to lose picture data due to the depletedcapacity of a single memory device. Such an interruption free change ofthe data transmission to a plurality of memory devices in succession cantake place, for example according to the principle of “roaming”, such asis known in connection with the change of a transmitter/receiver stationwith mobile radio telephones.

[0060] It is alternatively or additionally preferred for an intermediatememory device to be provided which serves as a data buffer in order,ultimately, to provisionally record data to be stored in a memory deviceand to transmit them to said memory device. Such an intermediate memorydevice is—for the benefit of increased data security—in particular ofadvantage on an exchange of memory devices during a running filmrecording. For example, such an intermediate memory device can beprovided by the motion picture camera or by a memory device arrangedremotely from the camera in the case of the explained wirelesstransmission of data to be stored to different memory devices.

[0061] It must still be noted with respect to the explained memorydevice that this can have at least one output interface for theoutputting of the stored data. This output interface can also be made,for example, as a wireless transmitter in order to allow a wirelesstransmission of the data.

[0062] In an advantageous embodiment, the memory device can becontrolled for the outputting of the stored data at an output rate whichis different from the rate of the reading in of the data to be stored,for example to allow a subsequent backup of the data in a—comparativelyslow—magnetic tape memory.

[0063] The memory device can in particular have a magnetic memory (forexample a hard disk), an optical memory (for example a recordable CD orDVD or a holographic memory), a magneto-optical memory, a semi-conductormemory (for example a RAM memory or a flash memory) or a plurality or acombination of these storage media.

[0064] Finally, it is preferred for the motion picture camera to have amodular design in order to allow a simple and fast replacement ofelectronic, optical and mechanical modules and in order furthermore toallow the use of conventional camera components. In particular, thesensor device together with the control device, further a recordingoptical system, or a memory device can respectively form its own suchmodular unit.

[0065] Further preferred embodiments of the invention are recited in thedependent claims. The invention will be explained in the following byway of example with reference to the drawings in which are shown:

[0066]FIGS. 1 and 2 possible embodiments of a motion picture camera inaccordance with the invention;

[0067]FIGS. 3 and 4 possible embodiments of a sensor device; and

[0068]FIGS. 5 and 6 time diagrams for the illustration of differentcontrol sequences with different picture recording periods.

[0069]FIG. 1 shows a possible design of the motion picture camera inaccordance with the invention. This has a recording optical system 11which images the motion picture actually to be recorded along areception beam path 13 on an optoelectronic sensor device 31. In amatrix-like arrangement, the sensor device 31 has a plurality of sensorelements which can, as a consequence of the light exposure, produce arespective received signal which corresponds to the light intensity andthe exposure time. For example, the sensor device 31 can have anarrangement of 1920×1080 or 2880×2160 of such sensor elements.

[0070] The received signals produced by the sensor device 31 aredelivered in parallel, or partly in parallel, to an amplification device32 which has a corresponding number of electronic amplifiers. Thereceived signals amplified in this manner are digitized in a downstreamdigitizing device 33 by a corresponding number of analog/digitalconverters. The digitizing device 33 is connected via a data bus 35 anda data interface 37 to a memory device 39 which records some of therecorded and digitized received signals on, for example, a magnetic harddisk in real time.

[0071] The received signals can be delivered via a further datainterface 41 connected to the data bus 35 to a display monitor 43 inorder to allow a simultaneous observation of the recorded motion picturefilm on this. The display monitor 43 can be integrated into the cameraor be arranged at a location remote from the camera.

[0072] The data flow from the sensor device 31 via the amplifier device32, the digitizing device 33 and the data bus 35 to the data interface37 and the memory device 39, on the one hand, and to the data interface41 and the display monitor 43, on the other hand, is controlled by anelectronic control device 45 which is connected, for this purpose, tothe said components 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43. The electronic controldevice 45 in particular controls the read-out of the received signals ofthe individual sensor elements of the sensor device 31.

[0073] A camera control device 47 is moreover provided which isconnected to the recording optical system 11, to the electronic controldevice 45, to the memory device 39 and, furthermore, to a camera sensor49 which, for example, detects the brightness of the of the take to berecorded or individual regions therefrom. The camera control device 47synchronizes the procedure of the digital motion picture recording withthe control or signal processing of the further camera components, andit allows the input of setting parameters by the cameraman via a userinterface not shown in FIG. 1.

[0074] The camera in accordance with FIG. 1 thus forms a digital motionpicture camera which allows the recording and storage of picture signaldata in a digital format and which simultaneously allows anelectro-optical control observation of the recorded data on the displaymonitor 43.

[0075]FIG. 3 schematically shows a known matrix-shaped division of thelight sensitive front side of a sensor device 31 into a plurality ofsensor elements 55, with only a low number of sensor elements beingshown for a simplified representation.

[0076]FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the sensor device 31 of the motionpicture camera of the invention in accordance with FIG. 1 in which thesensor elements 55 are associated with a central areal region 59 of thesensor device 31 and additional sensor elements 61 are associated with aframe-shaped areal region 63 which surrounds the central areal region59. The central areal region 59 has a rectangular outer outline and theframe-shaped areal region 63 has a rectangular inner contourcomplementary thereto.

[0077] This division is used only to make use of the received signals ofthe sensor elements 55 of the central areal region 59 (receviedrecording signals) for the recording and/or storage of the actual motionpicture in the memory device 39. In the camera in accordance with FIG.1, the memory device 39 is for this purpose only coupled to the sensorelements 55 of the central areal region 59 via the data interface 37.

[0078] The received signals of the sensor elements 61 of theframe-shaped areal region 63 (received monitoring signals) can, incontrast, additionally be used together with the recevied recordingsignals for an observation of the recorded take on the display monitor43, with the division of the sensor device 31 into the regions 59, 63corresponding to a division of the observable picture into a centralpicture section and a surrounding frame-shaped picture section. Thepicture which can be observed on the display monitor 43 is thus largerthan the actually stored motion picture. For this purpose, in the camerain accordance with FIG. 1, the display monitor 43 is coupled via thedata interface 41 to the sensor elements 55 of the central areal region59 and to the sensor elements 61 of the frame-shaped areal region 63.Due to this expanded observation and monitoring possibility, forexample, an accidental recording of a microphone extending into thepicture margin can be recognized and prevented in good time.

[0079] To sum up, in the motion picture camera shown in FIG. 1, thereceived signals of all sensor elements 55, 61 of the sensor device 31are digitized and corrected as necessary. These data are then deliveredto the digital data bus 35 which has a high bandwidth. The two (or more)interface switches 37, 41 are connected to the data bus 35 and can becontrolled such that only some of the data available at the data bus 35are transmitted. For example, the data interface 37 can transmit therecevied recording signals of the central areal region 59 to the memorydevice 39 in very high resolution, i.e. without information reduction.The data interface 41 also passes on the received monitoring signals ofthe frame-shaped areal region 63—in addition to the recevied recordingsignals—to the display monitor 43, with the data volume being reduced orcompressed prior to the passing on to the display monitor 43 inaccordance with the resolution of the display monitor 43.

[0080] The explained division of the sensor elements 55, 61 into thecentral areal region 59 and the frame-shaped areal region 63 can takeplace physically, for example by a different design of the sensorelements 55, 61 in the two areal regions 59 and 63 respectively, inparticular using different spatial, dynamic, color and/or temporalresolution. For example, a fixedly pre-set different connection of thesensor elements 55, 61 within the two areal regions 59 and 63respectively can also be provided.

[0081] Alternatively to such a physical division of the areal regions59, 63, the whole light sensitive surface of the sensor device 31 can befitted with similar sensor elements 55, 61, with the association withthe central and the frame-shaped areal regions 59 and 63 respectivelybeing set by the read-out or the control of the sensor elements 55, 61and with the sensor elements 55, 61 of the different areal regions 59,63 being read out using the same method or different methods.

[0082] In both cases of the division, the recevied recording signals andthe received monitoring signals can be directed over separate data pathsin order to reduce the effort for the processing of the data volumecreated, in particular by an early reduction of the data volume providedfor the display monitor 43.

[0083]FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a motion picture camera inaccordance with the invention, with components corresponding to theembodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 being marked with the samereference numerals. Contrary to the embodiment in accordance with FIG.1, the transmission of the received signals of the sensor device 31 tothe display monitor 43 takes place via an analog picture preparationcircuit 42 which is connected for this purpose at the input side to theamplifier device 32 and at the output side to the display monitor 43.Accordingly, the display monitor 43 has no data interface of its own (41in FIG. 1) associated with it for the link to the digital data bus 35.

[0084] In the motion picture camera shown in FIG. 2, only the receviedrecording signals of the central areal region 59 are digitized andtransmitted to the memory device 39 for storage in digital form via thedata bus 35 and the data interface 37. In contrast, the signals of allsensor elements 55, 61, that is the recevied recording signals and thereceived monitoring signals, are prepared on a parallel analog branch 43for display on the display monitor 43. The control picture shown on thedisplay monitor 43 thus again shows a picture area which correspondsboth to the central areal region 59 and to the frame-shaped areal region63 of the sensor device 31. The control picture shown therefore allows acontrol of the region surrounding the actual recording area.

[0085] Alternatively to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thereceived signals provided for the control reproduction on the displaymonitor 43 can also be branched at any other position of the signalprocessing chain. It is furthermore possible, on the one hand, tocombine a low resolution signal, which corresponds to both the centralareal region 59 and to the frame-shaped areal region 63 of the sensordevice 31, with a high resolution signal, which only corresponds to thecentral areal region 59. In this case, a control picture can be producedby a corresponding picture generation circuit on the display monitor 43which has a higher resolution in a central picture region than in asurrounding, frame-shaped picture region.

[0086] In the embodiment shown in each case in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensordevice 31 is formed by a CMOS sensor whose reception elements can beindividually controlled in order to bring about a resetting or asubsequent read out of the photoelectric charge, or of a correspondingvoltage signal, at any desired point in time.

[0087] In such a CMOS sensor, the light acting on a sensor element istransformed into a photoelectric charge and thereby, ultimately, into avoltage signal, whose value increases during the time of the lightexposure. An individual sensor element can be short circuited and thusreset in order to set the voltage value to zero and thus to let theexposure period start at a defined point in time. The read-out of thissensor element can likewise take place at any desired defined point intime in order thus to receive a received signal which corresponds to apre-determined exposure period. Since, therefore, both the startingpoint in time and the end point in time of the exposure period can beset as desired, ultimately the frequency at which the picture data setsof all sensor elements are jointly produced can also be varied, as willbe explained in the following. The CMOS sensor 31 thus allows avariation of the picture recording frequency, which is not possible at afixed read-out cycle—as with a CCD sensor for example.

[0088] In the sensor device 31 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the control ofthe exposure time and of the picture taking frequency preferably takesplace purely electronically. Alternatively or in support, however, it isalso possible to influence the masking or light exposure of the sensordevice 31 via a rotational diaphragm with at least one transmissionaperture and one masking zone. The exposure time of the sensor devicecan be controlled, or additionally electro-mechanically supported withrespect to an electronic control, by the rotational operation of such arotational diaphragm.

[0089] It must still be mentioned with respect to the camera inaccordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 that the sensor device 31, the amplifierdevice 32 and, preferably also, the digitizing device 33, can berealized by a single module. In this case, each sensor element hasassociated with in an integrated design its own amplifier or its ownanalog/digital converter. Furthermore, circuits for impedance matchingcan be provided.

[0090] The read-out, the amplification or the digitizing of the receivedsignals of the sensor elements can moreover naturally also take placecompletely or partly sequentially. The amplifier device 32 and thedigitizing device 33 then each only require a single signal amplifier ora single analog/digital converter in each case. It is, for example, alsopossible for ultimately only the received signals transmitted to thedisplay monitor 43 to be transmitted purely sequentially, whereas thetransmission of the recevied recording signals to the memory device 39takes place, at least in part, in parallel via the data interface 37. Inthis case, the display monitor 43 can be disposed upstream of, forexample, a multiplexer or a shift register.

[0091] It must still be mentioned with respect to the storage of thedigital picture data that such a data format can be pre-set by theelectronic control device 45 which does not only allow the storage ofthe digitized received signals of the sensor device 31, but also theadditional storage of associated recording parameters. For example, thediaphragm aperture of the recording optical system 11 set by means ofthe camera control device 47, the brightness values detected by means ofthe camera sensor 49, a reference time signal pre-set by a clock (notshown) or the actual picture recording frequency can also be stored asrecording parameters in the memory device 39.

[0092] A wireless connection, in particular a radio connection, can alsobe provided between the memory device 39 and the data interface 37 aswell as between the display monitor 43 and the data interface 41 or thepicture preparation circuit 42 instead of a wired connection.

[0093] In accordance with an advantageous further development of themotion picture camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frequency at which theindividual sequential motion pictures are recorded by means of thesensor device 31 can be varied by interaction of the camera controldevice 47 and of the electronic control device 45 with the sensor device31, and indeed in accordance with a pre-set value adjustable via theuser interface and the camera control device 47. The picture recordingfrequency can thereby be reduced or increased continuously prior to orduring a recording in order to carry out fast motion shots or slowmotion shots. With such a variation of the picture recording frequency,the frequency at which the received signals of the sensor device 31 areread out which jointly form a picture data set is modified, for example,by means of the electronic control device 45

[0094] A sequential read-out of the received signals of these sensorelements 55, 61 shown in FIG. 4 can take place for example as follows:starting with the sensor element 61, which is shown at the top left inthe representation in accordance with FIG. 4, initially all sensorelements 61 of the topmost line are reset sequentially from left toright and in defined intervals of time. In other words, the voltagevalues photoelectrically produced up to this time at these sensorelements 61 are set to zero.

[0095] Subsequently, the sensor elements 61, 55 of the second andfollowing lines are reset in a corresponding manner, that issequentially in each case from left to right, until finally the sensorelement 61 at the bottom right is reached and is likewise reset orcancelled. After the resetting of each sensor element 55, 61, theproduction and collection of photoelectrical charge is directlybegun—provided a light exposure takes place—such that, for example, acertain signal charge has been produced in the sensor element 61 at thetop left at the point in time of the resetting of the sensor element 61at the bottom right.

[0096] After such a sequential resetting of all sensor elements 55, 61,the received signals of these sensor elements are read out, and indeedagain at defined points in time and in the explained order, that isline-wise from left to right starting with the sensor element 61 at thetop left up to the sensor element 61 at the bottom right. Aphotoelectrical voltage value, or a received signal, is thereby read outfor each sensor element 55, 61 and corresponds to a specific knownexposure time. Such a sequential resetting and read-out of the sensorelements 55, 61 can be initiated, for example, by the electronic controldevice 45 in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0097]FIG. 5 shows in a time diagram how, with a sequential resettingand readout of sensor elements 55, 61 in accordance with FIG. 4, avariable picture recording frequency can be realized. Six possiblecontrol procedures (a) to (f) are shown by way of example, eachbeginning from a point in time t0. Cancellation intervals D, read-outintervals R and waiting intervals W are shown for these controlprocedures and each follow one another in a time sequence.

[0098] A cancellation interval D corresponds to the period of thesequential resetting of all sensor elements 55, 61, as explained withreference to FIG. 4. In a corresponding manner, a read-out interval Rcorresponds to the period of the sequential read-out of the sensorelements 55, 61 in accordance with FIG. 4. The cancellation intervals Dand the read-out intervals R always have a constant period of time,provided that one is working with a constant resetting and read-outcycle.

[0099] The picture recording frequency and/or the exposure time can bevaried in that one waits for the period of different waiting intervals Wbetween a resetting procedure and a read-out procedure, or between aread-out procedure and a resetting period.

[0100] It is shown, for example, in FIG. 5 for the control sequence (b)that, after the sequential resetting of all sensor elements 55, 61within the cancellation interval D, a waiting interval W initiallypasses before, during a readout interval R, the sensor elements 55, 61are read out sequentially and directly subsequently, during a furthercancellation interval D, are again reset sequentially. A completepicture recording cycle thereby takes up a period t2.

[0101] The same period t2 for a complete picture recording cycle is alsorequired if the read-out interval R follows directly after the end ofthe cancellation interval D and if a waiting interval W only passesafter this read-out before the sensor elements 55, 61 are again reset.This is shown in FIG. 5 for the control sequence (c).

[0102] The same period t2 of a complete picture recording cycle is thusrequired by the control sequences (b) and (c) such that in both casesthe same picture recording frequency is achieved. However, the exposuretime is extended in the control sequence (b) since a waiting interval Wfirst passes before the read-out of the sensor elements 55, 61.

[0103] A longer period t3 of a complete picture recording cycle, andthus a reduced picture recording frequency, can be achieved in that thesensor device 31 is controlled such that longer and/or more waitingintervals W pass between the resetting and the read-out of the sensorelements 55, 61. This is shown by way of example for the controlsequences (d), (e) and (f).

[0104] For example, in the control sequence (d), it is waited bothbefore and after the sequential read-out of the sensor elements 55, 61for the period of a waiting interval W, before again beginning with theread-out or resetting. The same exposure time is thereby achieved as inthe control sequence (b), but with a reduced picture recordingfrequency.

[0105] The control sequence (e) in accordance with FIG. 5, in contrast,shows the passing of a longer waiting interval W after the end of thesequential resetting of all sensor elements 55, 61, with the resettingagain being started directly after the subsequent read-out of the sensorelements. In this control sequence, the same period t3 of a completepicture recording cycle, and thus the same picture recording frequency,is achieved as with the control sequence (d). However, the exposure timeis increased here due to the extended waiting interval W.

[0106] The same picture recording frequency is also achieved in thecontrol sequence (f) as in the control frequencies (d) and (e). Thiscomparatively low picture recording frequency is achieved at a shortexposure time in that here a comparatively long waiting interval Wpasses between the ending of the read-out of the last sensor element 61and the time of the resetting of the first sensor element 61.

[0107] The highest possible picture recording frequency corresponding tothe shortest possible period t1 of a complete picture recording cycleresults if the cancellation interval D and the read-out interval Rfollow directly after one another in each case without intermediatewaiting intervals. This is shown as control sequence (a) in FIG. 5.

[0108] It must still be mentioned with respect to the control sequencesshown in FIG. 5 that these can be realized purely electronically, namelyby corresponding control of the sensor elements 55, 61 by means of theelectronic control device 45 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0109] The period of the different waiting intervals W can, for example,be selected in increments of that high frequency cycle at which thesensor elements 55, 61 are sequentially reset or read out. However, itis also possible to provide variable periods for the waiting intervals Win order to be able to continuously change the picture recordingfrequency. It is likewise possible to variably control the highfrequency cycle at which the sensor elements 55, 61 are sequentiallyreset or read out.

[0110] It must moreover be mentioned with respect to the explainedcontrol sequences that—due to the use of a CMOS sensor 31—the control ofthe sensor elements in accordance with FIG. 4 can also take place in anyother desired order, for example starting with the sensor element 61,which is shown at the top right in the representation in accordance withFIG. 4, sequentially from right to left or from top to bottom, orcompletely freely selectably in order to achieve certain effects.

[0111] It is in particular possible to make a differentiation of theread-out type or of the read-out order according to the division of thesensor elements 55, 61 into the two areal regions 59 and 63respectively. For example, a parallel read-out of the recevied recordingsignals and of received monitoring signals can be provided in each caseindependently of one another for the central areal region 59 and for theframe-shaped areal region 63, in particular via a respectivelyassociated data interface.

[0112] Furthermore, alternatively to the purely sequential exposure ofthe sensor elements 55, 61 explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, aso-called simultaneous shutter can be realized. For this, the receivedsignals of all sensor elements 55, 61 in accordance with FIG. 4 can bereset simultaneously. Moreover, there is associated with each sensorelement 55, 61 a memory element, for example in the form of a capacitor,into which the photoelectric charge produced in each case for the sensorelement 55, 61 in question can be displaced, with the memory elementsbeing connected or controllable such that no further increase of therespective received signal takes place in the memory elements after thischarge transfer even with a further light exposure of the sensor 31.This charge transfer can also be carried out simultaneously for allsensor elements 55, 61.

[0113] Since both the starting point in time and the end point in timeof the exposure is thus the same for all sensor elements 55, 61, thesensor elements are not subject to any phase shift relative to oneanother with respect to their respective exposure period.

[0114] After the simultaneous charge transfer, the read-out of thereceived signals, for example by taking up the voltage values applied atthe memory elements, can take place in any desired order, for example,sequentially, in parallel in groups or completely in parallel. Thesensor elements 55, 61 are subsequently again simultaneously reset.

[0115] A desired change in the picture recording frequency and/or in theexposure time can be realized in such a simultaneous shutter in that thestarting point in time and/or the end point in time of the simultaneousexposure of the sensor elements 55, 61 can be varied. For example, itcan be waited for the period of different waiting intervals W betweenthe simultaneous resetting of all sensor elements 55, 61 and thesimultaneous displacement of the photoelectrical charge into the memoryelements, or between the simultaneous displacement and the simultaneousresetting.

[0116]FIG. 6 shows such a simultaneous control sequence corresponding tothe sequential control sequence (d) in accordance with FIG. 5 withrespect to the period t3 of a picture recording cycle and thus withrespect to the picture recording frequency. The simultaneous resettingof all sensor elements 55, 61 is here triggered at a cancellation pointin time D. During a subsequent exposure interval E, the sensor elements55, 61 are exposed simultaneously. At a transfer point in time T, thephotoelectric charges of the sensor elements 55, 61 are, as explained,simultaneously displaced into the respectively associated memoryelement. After the passing of a first waiting interval W, the memoryelements are read out during a readout interval R. After the passing ofa further waiting interval W, and indeed at a cancellation point in timeD, the sensor elements 55, 61 are again simultaneously reset in order toinitiate a new exposure interval E.

[0117] In a corresponding manner as explained in connection with FIG. 5,the waiting intervals W shown in FIG. 6 can respectively be varied, inparticular lengthened, shortened or set to zero in order to vary theperiod t3 of a picture recording cycle, and thus the picture recordingfrequency and furthermore the exposure time E for all sensor elements55, 61 synchronously.

[0118] Reference Numeral List

[0119]11 recording optical system

[0120]13 reception beam path

[0121]31 sensor device

[0122]32 amplifier device

[0123]33 digitizing device

[0124]35 data bus

[0125]37 data interface

[0126]39 memory device

[0127]41 data interface

[0128]42 analog picture preparation circuit

[0129]43 display monitor

[0130]45 electronic control device

[0131]47 camera control device

[0132]49 camera sensor

[0133]55 sensor element

[0134]59 central areal region

[0135]61 sensor element

[0136]63 frame-shaped areal region

[0137] D cancellation interval or point in time

[0138] E exposure interval

[0139] R read-out interval

[0140] T transfer point in time

[0141] W waiting interval

[0142] t0, t1, t2, t3 point in time

1. A digital motion picture camera, at least comprising anoptoelectronic sensor device (31) for the recording of motion pictures,with the sensor device having, in an areal arrangement, a plurality ofsensor elements (55, 61) for the production of a respective receivedsignal in dependence on a light exposure; a control device (45, 47) forthe control of the read-out of the received signals of the sensorelements; and a digitizing device (33) for the digitizing of thereceived signals of the sensor elements, with a part of the sensorelements (55, 61) being associated with a central areal region (59) ofthe sensor device (31) for the generation of received recording signalsand with another part of the sensor elements being associated with aframe-shaped areal region (63) which surrounds the central areal region(59), for the generation of received monitoring signals.
 2. A motionpicture camera in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that themotion picture camera is connected to at least one display device (43)for the display of both the received recording signals and the receivedmonitoring signals.
 3. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim2, characterized in that the display device (43) is integrated into themotion picture camera; and/or in that the display device (43) isconnected to the motion picture camera via cable or via wirelesstransmission.
 4. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim 2,characterized in that the display device (43) is formed for the displayof the received recording signals and of the received monitoring signalsin such an arrangement which corresponds to the division of the sensorelements (55, 61) into the central areal region (59) and into theframe-shaped areal region (63).
 5. A motion picture camera in accordancewith claim 2, characterized in that the display device (43) is coupledto a picture generator by which a cutting frame signal can be generatedfor the representation of a cutting frame between the received recordingsignals and the received monitoring signals.
 6. A motion picture camerain accordance with claim 1, characterized in that only the receivedrecording signals are provided for transmission into a memory device(39).
 7. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim 1,characterized in that the sensor elements (55, 61) are coupled to thecontrol device (45, 47) such that the received recording signals and thereceived monitoring signals can be read out separately.
 8. A motionpicture camera in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that aninterface (37) is associated with the central areal region (59) for thetransmission of the received recording signals to a memory device (39);and/or in that an interface (41, 42) is associated with the centralareal region (59) for the transmission of the received recording signalsto a display device (43); and/or in that an interface (41, 42) isassociated with the frame-shaped areal region (63) for the transmissionof the received monitoring signals to a display device (43).
 9. A motionpicture camera in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that thereceived recording signals and/or received monitoring signals to betransmitted to the display device (43) can be reduced or compressed withrespect to their data volume by means of the associated interface (41,42).
 10. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim 8,characterized in that the interface (42) provided for the transmissionof the received recording signals and of the received monitoring signalsto the display device (43) has an analog picture preparation circuit,with this interface (42) preferably being connected at the input side toan amplifier device (32) to which the interface (37) is also connected,at least indirectly, for the transmission of the received recordingsignals to the memory device (39).
 11. A motion picture camera inaccordance with claim 1, characterized in that the sensor elements (55,61) are controllable for a freely selectable read out; and/or in thatthe association of the sensor elements (55, 61) with the central arealregion (59) and with the frame-shaped central areal region (63) isvariably pre-settable.
 12. A motion picture camera in accordance withclaim 1, characterized in that the sensor device (31) has a lowerresolution within the frame-shaped areal region (63) than within thecentral areal region (59).
 13. A motion picture camera in accordancewith claim 12, characterized in that the sensor device (31) has a lowerspatial resolution; brightness resolution; color resolution; and/ortemporal resolution in the frame-shaped areal region (63) than in thecentral areal region (59).
 14. A motion picture camera in accordancewith claim 12, characterized in that the extent of the central arealregion (59) of the sensor device (31) corresponds to a central area ofan optimized image of a recording optical system (11) of the motionpicture camera.
 15. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim 1,characterized in that the central areal region (59) of the sensor device(31) has a rectangular outer outline and the frame-shaped areal region(63) has a rectangular inner contour complementary thereto.
 16. A motionpicture camera in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that thesensor device (31) has a single optoelectronic sensor.
 17. A motionpicture camera in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that thesensor elements (55, 61) of the sensor device (31) are each providedwith a color filter; and/or in that the sensor elements (55, 61) of thesensor device (31) are color resolving.
 18. A motion picture camera inaccordance with claim 1, characterized in that the sensor device (31)has a CMOS sensor.
 19. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim1, characterized in that the sensor device (31) is controllable by meansof the control device (45, 47) for the recording of the motion picturesat a pre-settable variable picture recording frequency.
 20. A motionpicture camera in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that thestarting point in time of the exposure of the sensor elements (55, 61)and/or the end point in time of the exposure of the sensor elements iscontrollable by means of the control device (45, 47) for the variationof the picture recording frequency
 21. A motion picture camera inaccordance with claim 19, characterized in that the sensor elements (55,61) of the sensor device (31) can be controlled by means of the controldevice (45, 47) for a sequential resetting and for a subsequentsequential read-out.
 22. A motion picture camera in accordance withclaim 19, characterized in that the cycle of a sequential resetting orread-out of the received signals of the sensor elements (55, 61) iscontrollable for the variation of the picture recording frequency.
 23. Amotion picture camera in accordance with claim 19, characterized in thatthe sensor elements of the sensor device (31) are controllable by meansof the control device (45, 47) for a parallel or a group-wise parallelresetting or read-out.
 24. A motion picture camera in accordance withclaim 19, characterized in that the picture recording frequency isvariable continuously or in increments of a sensor element read-outcycle.
 25. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim 1,characterized in that each sensor element (55, 61) has its own amplifierdevice (32) associated with it which is preferably integrated into thesensor device (31); and/or in that each sensor element (55) of thecentral areal region (59) has its own digitizing device (33) associatedwith it which is preferably integrated into the sensor device (31);and/or in that each sensor element (61) of the frame-shaped areal region(63) has its own digitizing device associated with it which ispreferably integrated into the sensor device (31).
 26. A motion picturecamera in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the exposuretime of the sensor device (31) is electronically controllable by thecontrol device (45, 47).
 27. A motion picture in accordance with claim1, characterized in that the exposure time of the sensor elements (55,61) is controllable by the control device (45, 47) for each sensorelement individually, for some of the sensor elements together, or forall sensor elements together.
 28. A motion picture camera in accordancewith claim 1, characterized in that the sensor elements (55, 61) arecontrollable for the sequential production of a plurality of receivedsignals which correspond to different exposure times and are associatedwith a single motion picture.
 29. A motion picture camera in accordancewith claim 1, characterized in that a cooling device is provided for theactive cooling of the sensor device (31), with the cooling devicepreferably having a Peltier element or a fan.
 30. A motion picturecamera in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the digitizingdevice (33) is connected to at least one data interface (37) for thetransmission of the digitized received signals to a digital memorydevice (39).
 31. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim 1,characterized in that at least one digital memory device (39) isprovided for the storage of the digitized received recording signals,with the memory device preferably being capable of being coupled to themotion picture camera in an exchangeable manner.
 32. A motion picturecamera in accordance with claim 31, characterized in that the memorydevice (39) is controllable by the control device (45, 47) for theadditional storage of at least one recording parameter.
 33. A motionpicture camera in accordance with claim 31, characterized in that aclock is provided for the making available of a time signal, with thestorage of an actual time signal together with motion picture data orwith a recording parameter being controllable by means of the controldevice (45, 47).
 34. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim31, characterized in that the memory device (39) has an identificationdevice by which an identification code can be transmitted to the controldevice (45, 47).
 35. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim31, characterized in that the motion picture camera and the memorydevice (39) are designed for a wireless transmission of data to bestored, with the motion picture camera preferably having a wirelesstransmitter and the memory device (39) having a wireless receiver.
 36. Amotion picture camera in accordance with claim 31, characterized in thatan intermediate memory device is provided for the recording of data tobe stored and for the transmission of the data to the memory device(39).
 37. A motion picture camera in accordance with claim 31,characterized in that the memory device (39) has at least one outputinterface for the outputting of stored data.
 38. A motion picture camerain accordance with claim 31, characterized in that the memory device(39) for the outputting of stored data is controllable at a rate whichis different to the rate of the reading in of data to be stored.
 39. Amotion picture camera in accordance with claim 31, characterized in thatthe memory device (39) has at least a magnetic memory, a magneto-opticalmemory, a semi-conductor memory and/or an optical memory.
 40. A motionpicture camera in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a modulardesign, with the sensor device (31) together with the control device(45, 47), a recording optical system (11), and/or a memory device (39)each forming its own modular unit.